It doesn't say what they are afraid that, but what they admit they are afraid of. There is a difference. (just using an example, not suggesting any one party is tied to this particular example) Most racists are closet racist and try very hard to hide their views (except when they can be completely anonymous on the internet or in the voting box), so they try not to admit their fears. I would also suggest that it is more within the mindset of conservatives to be "tougher" and so not admit fears.

Studies on the brain (which you don't have to worry about people lying) show that republicans evaluate risk more with the parts of their brains that process fear.

"Republicans showed more activity than Democrats in the right amygdala when making a risky decision. This brain region is important for processing fear, risk and reward. Meanwhile, Democrats showed more activity in the left posterior insula, a portion of the brain responsible for processing emotions, particularly visceral emotional cues from the body."

Studies on the brain (which you don't have to worry about people lying) show that republicans evaluate risk more with the parts of their brains that process fear.

"Republicans showed more activity than Democrats in the right amygdala when making a risky decision. This brain region is important for processing fear, risk and reward. Meanwhile, Democrats showed more activity in the left posterior insula, a portion of the brain responsible for processing emotions, particularly visceral emotional cues from the body."

Cool, a study that vindicates my own analysis.

At least the noble sheep provides us warm sweaters. All your hides would provide are coward pants. - Dick Solomon

Studies on the brain (which you don't have to worry about people lying) show that republicans evaluate risk more with the parts of their brains that process fear.

"Republicans showed more activity than Democrats in the right amygdala when making a risky decision. This brain region is important for processing fear, risk and reward. Meanwhile, Democrats showed more activity in the left posterior insula, a portion of the brain responsible for processing emotions, particularly visceral emotional cues from the body."

Cool, a study that vindicates my own analysis.

A convenient narrative for Republicans, but I think you're presenting something of a misinterpretation. The function of the amygdala concerning risk and reward is to make you choose less risky options - essentially a corollary of the fact that it produces fear. http://www.jneurosci.org...

Meanwhile, since this study was on risk-taking, I went to the trouble of finding a study dealing specifically with the posterior insular cortex. The results were: "we propose that the posterior part of the insula maybe involved with the delay of gratification, that is, the ability to postpone immediate rewards for the sake of future greater benefits"http://pauluslab.ucsd.edu...

I propose, then, that the Republican is the kind of individual who is averse to risk and prone to feeling threatened. This is why he supports traditional social institutions and authorities and favours policies that confront and punish those who he sees as attacking him. The Democrat is less easily threatened, is less averse to risk and more willing to postpone gratification. This is why the Democrat is more accepting of diversity and more willing to propose change.

In direct response to you, then, I don't think the difference is 'rational vs. emotional', but instead it is, it seems, about fear vs. hope. To me, this seems like a ridiculously biased conclusion at first, but I presume that's because I value hope over fear, being the damned commie anarchist punk I am.

I don't find this surprising, at least on the questions given. In theory, there are far more rural Republicans who have regular exposure to bugs and blood (either through hunting or just the natural area). Republicans are also generally in tighter-knit rural communities or fairly safe urban or suburban areas, which would reduce a fear of strangers. I'm not exactly sure why Dems would be more afraid of clowns, but the ghost thing can be easily explained - apparently more Democrats believe in the occult than Republicans.

Given a different set of questions, I think there would be a different result.

We, homo sapiens of the planet Earth, are the people of Debate.org, an online debating website owned by Juggle, and will aspire to increase the quality of debates, polls, mafia on said website, to be sufficient, meeting high standards of success and satisfaction in all areas, to consider it as "great", or superb and spectacular, again for the first time in years

I'm surprised liberals tend to be more afraid of ghosts, since I usually attribute skepticism, agnosticism, atheism ect. to be with the Left.

That's really a myth. More Democrats believe in the occult and astrology, and many of the atheists and skeptics are libertarians. Republicans may have the religious right, but Democrats have hippies, new agers, and other 'spiritual but not religious' groups.

For the most part though, I don't see how any of this has major bearing on the logical validity if either sides positions.

We, homo sapiens of the planet Earth, are the people of Debate.org, an online debating website owned by Juggle, and will aspire to increase the quality of debates, polls, mafia on said website, to be sufficient, meeting high standards of success and satisfaction in all areas, to consider it as "great", or superb and spectacular, again for the first time in years

I'm surprised liberals tend to be more afraid of ghosts, since I usually attribute skepticism, agnosticism, atheism ect. to be with the Left.

That's really a myth. More Democrats believe in the occult and astrology, and many of the atheists and skeptics are libertarians. Republicans may have the religious right, but Democrats have hippies, new agers, and other 'spiritual but not religious' groups.

Ahhh this actually makes sense. I can definitely see it.

For the most part though, I don't see how any of this has major bearing on the logical validity if either sides positions.